The Dialogues of Plato

Many would consider Plato not only the greatest philosopher ever, but the greatest Greek prose writer too. Numerous English translations have been attempted, largely to be criticized and forgotten. Over a hundred years after the first edition of his translation in 1871, Benjamin Jowett’s reputation remains resilient to time. Jowett (1817-93) was a great classical scholar and Master of Balliol College, Oxford, who spent over fifty years translating and revising these dialogues. He was keen to convey the literariness of Plato’s writings and to offer up a cohesively readable translation that would appeal equally to classics scholars and readers with no knowledge of ancient Greek. This 1892 third edition of Jowett’s translation reveals his clearest vision, with his final editorial selections, ordering, and word-polishing. Thus, it includes the Eryxias, the Second Alcibiades, twenty-one of Jowett’s essays, and, most usefully, marginal analyses, all subsequently omitted. Though Jowett wanted his translation to be improved and corrected from time to time, for its overall consistency and fluidity, this third edition remains a classic that both Plato and Jowett scholars will wish to read and consult.—Contains all Jowett’s final amendments —Twenty-one of Jowett’s essays subsequently omitted —Unique marginal analyses to each dialogue